'I've got a Song'

Subject: 'I've got a Song'
From: robinia
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 08:52 AM

Does anyone know where this song came from?

"I've got a song, it's about so long and about so big around; it's got a wonderful sound, but I won't sing it. I've got a song, it's a shade of green and embroidered all over with birds; but I don't know the words, so I can't sing it. [melody change for next verse] Someday I'll get on a mountaintop and open up my mouth, and this great big song'll come rolling out and echo north and south. [back to original melody] I've got a song, it's a wonderful song; it's fine and brave and gay, and I'll sing it someday, yes, I'll sing it someday." I seem to remember an old LP of children's songs, Robin ????? , that I learned it from and have since lost....

Subject: RE: 'I've got a Song'
From: KathWestra
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 09:58 AM

It's by Malvina Reynolds, and it's the title song of one of Sandy and Caroline Paton's delightful children's tapes. One of the great things is that it comes with a book with terrific notes, all the words, and other good stuff. You can get it through the Folk-Legacy website (and maybe Sandy will get on here and actually produce a blue clicky since I'm technologically challenged). I just bought the tape and booklet as a one-year-old birthday present for my friends' little boy, who loves to listen to music. Kathy

Subject: RE: 'I've got a Song'
From: KathWestra
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 10:01 AM

Maybe we can also get Sandy to post the story behind the song. As I remember him telling it, it had to do with a little kid at an adult party trying to get people's attention. Since the adult partygoers were all interested in folk music, s/he succeeded by saying "I've got a song!" Once the room had quieted, the kid continued "...but I won't sing it." Sandy, how's my memory? KW

Subject: RE: 'I've got a Song'
From: robinia
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 11:52 AM

I should have guessed, especially since it's a tape I love to give (and once had the LP -- I can picture the cover). Have I changed the last verse right, by the way? Obviously it needs "gay" to rhyme with "day" but that's all I'm really sure of.....

Subject: RE: 'I've got a Song'
From: robinia
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 11:56 AM

I should have guessed, especially since it's a tape I love to give (and once had the LP -- I can picture the cover). Have I changed the last verse right, by the way? Obviously it needs "gay" to rhyme with "day" but that's all I'm really sure of.....

Subject: RE: 'I've got a Song'
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 01:02 PM

We learned the last few lines as: "I've got a song; it's three miles long, it's simple and strong and gay. And I'll sing it some day, yes, I'll sing it some day."

The story Kathy refers to (as it was told to us) has to do with Lou Gottlieb's daughter, There was an adult party at Lou's place, packed, understandably, with musicians (Lou being a Limeliter, a PhD in music, etc). Malvina Reynolds was there. After being ignored by all of the adults for most of the evening, the daughter, then about three years old, stood up in the middle of the room and announced, in a good, strong voice: "I've got a song!" A hush fell over the group and someone said, expectantly, "Yes?" The little girl then defiantly added: "But I WON'T sing it!" Thus inspired, Malvina made up the song.

That's the story we were told, and we're sticking with it -- reality or myth.

Sandy

Subject: RE: 'I've got a Song'
From: Bert
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 02:07 PM

Ah! what a wonderful story, Thanks Sandy.